A WOMAN in her 30s suffered an appalling ordeal by a gang of four men on the towpath of the Rochdale Canal in Manchester.

The outcome was that four men, aged between 32 and 48 have been arrested for rape of the woman by Canal Street on the 'Rochdale Nine', Dugald Campbell reports.

Critical condition

Emergency services were soon on the scene with the woman being taken to hospital in a critical condition, and supported by specialist officers. The four men, arrested on suspicion of rape were kept in custody for questioning.

The police cordoned off part of the towpath that runs parallel to Canal Street, that is famous for it homosexual bars and activity.